A New Transition Criterion for Stratified and Nonstratified Flows in Pipes

A two-step approach has been used to obtain a new transition criterion for the stratified and nonstratified flow in horizontal pipe: (1) In the first step, a more general expression than the existing models for the flow transition criterion has been derived from the analysis of singular points and neutral stability conditions, or the parallel lines conditions of the transient one-dimensional two- phase flow equations of two-fluid model. (2) In the second step, introducing simplifications and incorporating a parameter into the general expression obtained in the first step to satisfy a number of physical conditions a priori specified, a new simple flow transition criterion for horizontal pipes has been derived. Comparison between results predicted by the present theory with the experimental data and theories in the pipe flow conditions, show good agreement.